Fuel regulator



a-18, G. WYQDER 2,293 583 FUEL REGULATOR Filed Aug. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN VEN TOR.

G. W. YODER FUEL REGULATOR Aug 18, 1942.

Filed Aug. 6, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

Patented Aug. 18, 1942 UNITED STATEg PATENT @EFICE 11 Claims.

This invention relates to a means operating in synchronism with the accelerator valve of a carbureter whereby the flow of a fuel mixture from the carburetor to the intake manifold of an internal combustion engine may be controlled to effect a more thorough and eflicient mixture of the gas and air than has heretofore been possible, thereby producing a better fuel mixture resulting in increased mileage per gallon and a general improvement in the operation of the engine.

A further object is to utilize vibratory means for agitating and breaking down the minute air pockets and globules of hydrocarbon fuel, so that the explosive mixture will be substantially the same under all driving conditions.

A still further object is to utilize the fuel stream for agitating purposes, there being means associated with and actuated by the accelerator valve for regulating the velocity of the stream.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claims, it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the in vention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawings the preferred form of the invention has been shown.

In said drawings Figure 1 is a central vertical section through the structure constituting the present invention.

Figure 2 is a section on line 2-2, Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a section on line 3--3, 3..

Figure 4 is a section on line 4 t, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of one end of th yoke.

Figure 6 is a section on line'$6, Figure 1.

Referring to the figures by characters of reference, l designates a casing, preferably cylindrical adapted to be interposed between and bolted or otherwise attached to the intake manifold 2 of an engine and a flange 3 extending about the outlet of a carburetor 4. This casing has an annular seat 5 at that end nearest the carburetor while formed within the inner surface of the casing at its other end are a desired number of grooves 6 extending lengthwise of the casing.

A yoke l bridges the grooved end of the casing and is mounted to slide in the grooves 6. The upper ends of the yoke are arranged within diametrically opposed alining slots 8 formed in the lower edge portion of a controlling valve in the form of a ring 9 which has a snug sliding fit within casing i. The slots 8 are widened at their inner ends, as shown at l G so that transverse ribs l I formed on the end portions of the yoke can be seated in these enlargements it and thereby hold the yoke and ring assembled for sliding movement in unison within casing l.

The ring 9 has its inner surface flared at that end thereof nearest the carburetor the flare being formed at two angles, namely an inner annular flared portion l2 and an outer annular flared portion i 3, this outer flare being at approximately ninety degrees to the longitudinal center of casing I while the inner flare is at a greatly reduced angle. The two flared portions cooperate to form an ridge it which is angular in cross-section and concentric with the casing 1.

The seat 5 is engaged by a supporting ring E5 on which is mounted an annular flange l t at one end of a cylindrical vibrator ii. This vibrator includes a plurality of reeds it all of which are of the same material, size and proportions and terminate at one end in a circle within the flared portion of but spaced from ring .9.

Those end portions of the reeds nearest ring 9 are parallel and have their side edges normally spaced apart approximately one sixty-fourth of an inch. These parallel edges, indicated at I9 terminate at insets 20 formed in the sides of the reeds and from these insets each reed is tapered upwardly to its upper end, as shown at El, all of the reeds being integral at their upper or small ends with the upper portion of the tubular cylindrical agitator. As a result of the construc' tion and arrangement described, there is provided between the reeds at one end very narrow slits and from the inner ends of these slits are extended relatively wide slots 22 which decrease in width toward the slits between the edges is. It will be noted that the tubular agitator is proportioned to define an annular compression chamber 23 between it and the casing l, the openings 22 constituting elongated ports opening into this chamber.

The accelerator valve of the carburetor, which is mounted in the usual manner and operated by the usual means, has been indicated at it. A bracket 25 is adjustably connected to this valve so as to be shiitable toward or from the axis of rotation of the valve. To this bracket is pivotally connected the upper end of a connecing rod '26 the lower end of which is seated in a pivoted socket member 2? joined to the yoke l and detachably held thereto by a transverse pin 28,

The parts of this invention are so positioned and proportioned that when the valve 24 is in idling position, the ridge [4 is located close to the free ends of the reeds l8 so as thus to form a narrow annular throat 29 opening upwardly into the compression chamber 23 and downwardly into the ring 9,

During the operation of the engine to which this invention is applied, the fuel mixture is drawn past the valve 24 in the usual way and eX- pands through the ports 22 into the chamber 23. Because of the small size of the throat 29, fuel sucked from chamber 23 and through ports 22 will travel at a much greater velocity than fuel flowing directly through the agitator. Thus there is set up uneven pressures at the two sides of the reeds I3 with the result that these reeds will be rapidly vibrated, thus acting to beat the fuel adjacent thereto and break up many of the minute air pockets and hydrocarbon globules contained within the mixture,

As the valve 24 is opened, a thrust is transmitted therefrom through rod 26 to yoke I and this yoke will thus act to pull ring 9 toward the intake manifold 2. Consequently the size of the throat 29 is increased and as greater demands are made upon the fuel, a greater quantity of fuel is supplied to the chamber 23 which has its sole outlet through the throat and, to a slight extent, between the edges [9. The high velocity of the mixture flowing through the throat will be continued irrespective of the amount of fuel being supplied to the manifold and as this velocity is far above that of the mixture flowing straight through the agitator, the vibration of the reeds will continue and result in the action heretofore described.

Because of the positive connection between valve 24 and yoke 1 the movement of the ring 9 to enlarge or reduce the size of the throat 291 will always be in proportion to the amount of explosive mixture released by valve 24.

It will be noted that by utilizing the fiared end of ring 9, the fuel sucked into ring 9 through throat 29 will tend to travel toward the center of the ring thereby intercepting and violently agitating that portion of the mixture which is travelling directly through the agitator.

It is to be understood that the reeds and the parts integral therewith can be made of spring steel or any other suitable material having the proper resiliency and capable of resisting the action of the fuel.

Inasmuch as the ports 22 maintaining communication between the compression chamber 23 and the central fuel passage 30 defined by the reeds are tapered in the direction of the intake manifold, the velocity of the mixture in entering the ports increases toward the narrow ends of the ports and this fact, coupled with the acceleration of fuel obtained at the throat 29, serves to divert most of the fuel mixture into the annular chamber and away from the central fuel passage 30.

For the purpose of properly guiding and holding the ring 9 in position it is in engagement with ribs 3! on the inner surface of casing I.

What is claimed is:

1. The combination with the accelerator valve of a carbureter, said valve being movable to open or closed positions, of a device for insertion between the carbureter and fuel intake of an engine comprising an annular series of vibratory reeds defining a fuel passage, a casing cooperating with the reeds to define an annular compression chamber having an annular outlet at one end of the reeds, said reeds being free at said outlet, there being ports between the reeds adjacent to their other ends, a controlling valve for varying the size of the annular outlet and a connection between said valves for opening or closing the controlling valve in unison with the accelerator valve.

2. The combination with the accelerator valve of a carbureter, said valve being movable to open or closed positions, of a device for insertion between the carbureter and fuel intake of an engine comprising an annular series of vibratory reeds defining a fuel passage, a casing cooperating with the reeds to define an annular compression chamber having an annular outlet at one end of the reeds, said reeds being free at said outlet, there being ports between the reeds adjacent to their other ends, means for varying the size of the annular outlet, said means including a ring mounted to slide toward and from the free ends of the reeds, and means operatively connecting the valve and ring for moving the ring toward and from the reeds when the valve is closed and opened respectively.

3. The combination with the accelerator valve of a carbureter, said valve being movable to open or closed positions, of a device for insertion between the carbureter and fuel intake of an engine comprising an annular series of vibratory reeds defining a fuel passage, a casing cooperating with the reeds to define an annular compression chamber having an annular outlet at one end of the reeds, said reeds being free at said outlet, there being ports between the reeds adjacent to their other ends, means for varying the size of the annular outlet, said means including a ring mounted to slide toward and from the free ends of the reeds, said ring having a flared end cooperating with said ends of the reeds to provide an annular throat, and means operatively connecting the accelerator valve and ring for moving the ring from the reeds when the valve is opened and toward the reeds when the valve is closed.

4. The combination with the accelerator valve of a carbureter, said valve being movable to open or closed positions, of a device for insertion between the carbureter and fuel intake of an engine comprising an annular series of vibratory reeds defining a fuel passage, a casing cooperating with the reeds to define an annular compression chamber having an annular outlet at one end of the reeds, said reeds being free at said outlet, there being ports between the reeds adjacent to their other ends, means for varying the size of the annular outlet, said means including a ring mounted to slide toward and from the free ends of the reeds, said ring having annular portions fiared at different angles respectively to provide an annular ridge therebetween, said ridge and flared portions cooperating with the free ends of the reeds to provide a throat, and means operatively connecting the accelerator valve and ring for moving the ring from the reeds when the valve is opened and toward the reeds when the valve is closed.

5. A device for insertion between the carbureter and fuel intake of an engine comprising an annular series of vibratory reeds defining a fuel passage, a casing cooperating with the reeds to define an annular compression chamber having an annular outlet at one end of the reeds, said reeds being free at said outlet, there being ports between the reeds adjacent to their other end, and means for varying the size of the annular outlet, said means including a ring mounted to slide toward and from the free ends of the reeds, a carbureter, an accelerator valve therein, and means operated by the valve for moving the ring from the reeds when the valve is opened and toward the reeds when the valve is closed.

6. A device for insertion between the carbureter and fuel intake of an engine comprising an annular series of vibratory reeds defining a fuel passage, a casing cooperating with the reeds to define an annular compression chamber having an annular outlet at one end of the reeds, said reeds being free at said outlet, there being ports between the reeds adjacent to their other ends, and means for varying the size of the annular outlet, said means including a ring mounted to slide toward and from the free ends of the reeds, said ring having a flared end cooperating with said ends of the reeds to provide an annular throat, a carbureter opening into said passage, an accelerator valve therein, and means operated by the valve when Opened or closed for moving the ring to open or contract the throat respectively.

7. A device for insertion between the carbureter and fuel intake of an engine comprising an annular series of vibratory reeds defining a fuel passage, a casing cooperating with the reeds to define an annular compression chamber having an annular outlet at one end of the reeds, said reeds being free at said outlet, there being ports between the reeds adjacent to their other ends, and means for varying the size of the annular outlet, said means including a ring mounted to slide toward and from the free ends of the reeds, said ring having annular portions flared at different angles respectively to provide an annular ridge therebetween, said ridge and flared portions cooperating with the free ends of the reeds to provide a throat, a carbureter opening into said passage, an accelerator valve therein, and means operated by the valve when opened or closed for moving the ring to open or contract the throat respectively.

8. The combination with a carbureter having an outlet, an accelerator valve therein, and an intake manifold having an inlet, of a casing interposed between the outlet and inlet, an annular series of vibratory elements in the casing and dividing the interior thereof into a central fuel passage connecting the outlet and inlet, and an annular compression chamber open at that end nearest the manifold inlet, there being ports between the vibratory elements opening into the chamber from the passage, and means operated by the valve for enlarging said end opening when the valve is opened and reducing the opening when the valve is closed.

9. The combination with the accelerator valve of a carbureter, said valve being movable to open or closed positions, of a device for insertion between the carbureter and fuel intake of an engine comprising an annular series of vibratory reeds defining a fuel passage, a casing cooperating with the reeds to define an annular compression chamber having an annular outlet at one end of the reeds, said reeds being free at said outlet, there being ports between the reeds adjacent to their other ends, and means for varying the size of the annular outlet, said means including a ring mounted to slide toward and from the free ends of the reeds, and means for transmitting motion to the ring from the valve to increase or reduce the size of the orifice at the open end of the annular chamber when the valve is opened or closed respectively.

10. The combination with the accelerator valve of a carbureter, said valve being movable to open or closed positions, of a device for insertion between the carbureter and fuel intake of an en gine comprising an annular series of vibratory reeds defining a fuel passage, a casing cooperating with the reeds to define an annular compression chamber having an annular outlet at one end of the reeds, said reeds being free at said outlet, there being ports between the reeds adjacent to their other ends, and means for varying the size of the annular outlet, said means including a ring mounted to slide toward and from the free ends of the reeds, said ring having a flared end cooperating with said ends of the reeds to provide an annular throat, and means for moving the valve and ring in unison or from full open position, said means including a rod slidable in the casing and coupled to the valve and ring, said ring having a flared inlet end cooperating with the vibratory elements to provide an annular throat.

11. The combination with a carbureter having an outlet, an accelerator valve therein movable to open or closed position, and an intake manifold, of a casing between the carbureter outlet and the manifold inlet, an annular series of reeds within the casing and cooperating therewith to provide a compression chamber having an annular outlet at one end, said reeds being spaced to provide inlet ports for the chamber, and means operated by said valve for moving the ring toward or from said outlet simultaneously with the movement of the valve toward or from closed position.

GEORGE WASHINGTON YODER. 

